The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-23

especially the case with the men, who muss
certainly have expected to encounter the
icy fjords and snow covered mountains OF
the old home near the arctic circle, and not
the fervor OF a mid-continent July day.
One of them. who kept little apart from
the rest, was especially fortified. His hign
boots reaching above the knee and laced
from the ankle showed that he was the
Finlander the brakeman had spoken Of
| who had probably come to this country with
| the avcwed purpose of using language 10
| his oxen that no American OK should hear.
His head was covered with large fur cap
with immense Tapping side-pieces designed
to turn down and protect his ears. The hot
wind was further defed by several gaily-
colored scarfs, one Of them tied around his
waist like large sash, double breasted
vest that must have been an heirloom a
sheepskin coat, the wool inside, together
with the boots before referred to. He did
not appear to be too warm, though it was
remarked by the observant crowd on the
platform that he wasn't shivering.
He was tall, finely formed specimen OF
manhood, with honest, blue eyes and an
intelligent expression. He appeared some
what perplexed as he looked around. He
could not talk with the rest of the emigrants
as the Norwegian and Finnish language have
but little in common. His inquiries in his
native tongue of the platform crowd con-
cerning the whereabouts of any Of his
countrymen did not meet with the most
hattering success.
1--WE buried the last wan of yes peoples"
said paddy, IAN we'n plant ye too fore ye
knows it."
"W'y don't you talk United Statesi"
asked another.
'The fsh-bones are sticking in his teeth
so he can't" put in third.
Then the crowd smiled at the surprising
amount of humor it had developed, and
Judge Wilkins pointed out the station agent
to the bewildered Finlander. He presented
check and claimed a small wooden iron
bound chest, painted vivid red. The chest
had heavy iron handles and an immense
handmade paddock. On one end Of it was
painted in curious-shaped white letters,
'Petter Erik Peterson, Dakota, Prairie
City, Mort Ammerika, New York; He
carried q smaller chest in his hand bearing
the same legend. 1t is supposed that the
New York was added to identify North
America.
Peter, which he soon anglicized to Peter,
shouldered his trunk and walked away,
which act gave the crowd on the platform
considerable respect for his strength, even
if it retained its poor opinion of him as a
linguist. He succeeded in finding a man
who could understand few words of his
language, who directed him towards set
tlement of his people several miles from
town, and he proceeded in that direction,
still carrying his baggage-other people
might trust their possessions out of their
sight if they wished to, but not he.
P,,% Da%o - l.
had come to the new world to do a great
work, and he thought of it and it made his
burden lighter. For Peter had come on a
mission. Half the people in the little vii
lage in which he lived and in the little val
ley In which the village nestled had given
something toward his coming. His father
and brothers and sisters and many of his
friends, had contributed money to his own
little.purse to make the sum sufficient to
buy the ticket to America. For they were
all very poor and the steamship companies
demanded a fabulous sum to carry one
across the ocean. But others had gone from
other villages and had made such sums Of
money in the new world that it was almost
impossible to comprehend the amount
And they sent part of it back and repaid
their Indebtedness and enough more to buy
others tickets, and they haddone the same,
and gradually nearly the whole village had
sailed away towards that land where all
were rich and happy and every man as good
as every other man.
So it was time that this village bestirred
itself and started for America also. And
Peter was selected because he was strong
and hardy and intelligent, and was bound
to be great man some day anyhow. And
besides he had been working for three
years to get money enough for this very
purpose and.he was great traveller already,
having been as far as Stockholm
So they all gave Peter something to help
him on his way. The carpenter made his
chest without charge and the painter let
tered it and would not hear of pay. And
Peters grandfather, Hendrick Antiiuntti
Peterson, who lived up on the mountain,
took off his sheepskin coat which he had
worn for sixty years, and which was Just in
the very height of fashion, and put it on
him with his blessing, explaining that as he
understood it this place, America, was on
the other side of the world and accordingly
had winter when Finland and Europe and
Asia were enjoying summer, and reckoning
from this stand point, he found that Peter
would reach there in the dead Of the cold
season ard good sheepskin coat or two
would not come amiss.
And as Peter trudged along he thought
Of all these, but he was only home-sick and
wished himself back in the little village in
the little valley between the mountains
when he thought of another And her name
was Mary. But though the thought Of her
made him long to be back to his native
village it also made the iron-bound chest
seem lighter, and he went on towards the
settlement all the faster. For Mary was
the one above all others that he had come
to America to work for. Mary had
helped him more than all the rest-she had
given him more. She had made him the
bright-colored sash he wore-sheared the
sheep, carded and spun the wool, dyed the
yarn and knit it, all with her own hands, as
a surprise for him on the day he left. And
had she not, too, offered to give him the
little money she had earned tending the
flock of goats for awealthier neighbor, that
he might buy more comforts on his long
journey to far-off Americai And above
every thing else, she had given him her love
and was waiting back there in their little
native valley to come to him. For it was
understood that Mary was to be the first to
come. All his friends agreed to that and
wanted it to be so, and Peter felt so strong
that it did not seem that it would take him
long to earn enough in this land of promise
to send for her. So the picture remained
before his eyes that bright day when he
sailed away in little fishing boat from the
nearest seaport town to his own village,
and of Mary, who had come across the
mountain with Vim, standing there on the
quay, waving little yellow handkerchief
at him as he went away from his native
land to one in which he would be free and
make home for her. And as he went
acrnss the nrairie. To him she was still